Playball



April 9, 1929. R. H. COOVERT PLAY BALL Filed June 25, 1927 Patented Apr.9, 1929.

UNETED STATES ASSEGNOR TO THE PIONEER RUBBER COM- !1 GGREORATIGN OFOHIO.

ELAYBALL.

Application filed June 25,

My invention has for its object to provide a novel pneumatic play-ballthat is exceedingly durable and will withstand the rough usage of ballplaying and is so constructed as to prevent rupture and puncture.v Myinvention particularly nas for its object to provide a means whereby tle ball, after being inflated, may be sealed in a manner that eliminatesall protruding parts a d pre- Ai LA.

vents the entrance of any object or material into the interior of thecasingand thus prevents puncture or abrasion of the bladder,- and keepsthe ball in an inflated con- 7 dition for a long period of time. Theinvention provides a casing formed of a pinrality of spherical sectorstrips or a decorated rubberized cloth, which are sewed to gether in theform of a sphere, and wherein is located a gum or rubber bladder that isexpanded by'insertion of air therein. The invention also provides aclosure 'means that seals the opening in the casing through which thebladder is filled with air and hence the ball may be used for watersports. The invention also provides a means for preventing fraying ofthe cloth about the opening and for maintaining the shape of theopening, notwithstanding frequent refilling and rough usage of theplay-ball.

The invention may be contained. in pneumatic devices of diiferent formsand used for difierent purposes, and, to illustrate a practicalapplication of my invention, I have selected a play-ball embodying theinvention as an example oi such constructions and shall describe ithereinafter. The particular play-ball selected is shown in theaccompanying drawing.

Fig. l of thedrawing is a side view of the play-ball selected. Fig. 2shows an eyelet or opening in the casing of the play-ball through whichthe neck of the bladder extends when the ball is deflated. Fig. 3 is aview of a cross section through the eyelet. Fig. l is a view of a crosssection of the partot the ball illustrated in Fig. 1 and shows thetwisted neck inserted within the casing for maintaining the bladder inits sealed condition. y

The play-ball 1 is formed of a plurality of sectors that may be formedof sheet fabrics, coated with a rubber compound, and cut tosubstantially the form of spherical sectors 2. The sectors 2 are sewedtogether at their edges so that when they are assembled by sewing andthen distended by the inflation of the bladder, they will produce asubstantially spherical form.

A round opening 3 is formed in one oi the sectors through which thebladder 5) may be inserted in the casing, leaving the neck a: so as toprotrude through the opening L "ing or washer 5 made of thin leather,)19 "1 ably, or of any flexible sheetmaterial, zvin an opening ofsubstantially the saris in size as the opening 3 of the casing,

securely fastened by any suitable adheve in such a position thattheopening 6 in the washer registers with the opening in the casing.Preferably the disc 5 oi. flexible material is cemented to the sectorand the two are punched to form the opening 3. The washer 5 operatestore-intor ce the sector of the casing around the opening 3 and preventundue distention of the opening upon inflation of the bladder 9, andalso irev'ent fraying of the cloth from which the casing is formed. Thusa relatively large opening may be provided for insertion of the bladder9 within the casing and for manipulation of the neck l in filling andclosing the bladder 9.

In order to seal the interior of the casing and secure the closure ofthe bladder, a second washer 7, composed of sheet rubber havingapproximately the same thickness as the washer 5 and having an openingconsiderably smaller than that of the leather washer 5, is locatedbetween the casing and the bladder so that the neck at may protrudethrough the opening 8 of the rubber washer 7 and the opening 3 of thewasher 5 and the casing. The diameter of the rubber washer 7 ispreferably such that the width of the annulus or rim is substantially asla go or larger than the diameter of the opening 3 in the casing so thatthe rubber washer 7 may be so placedv as to cover the opening 3 in thecasing. After the ball has been inflated, the neck may be sezned bytwisting it and then inserting through the opening 3 and between therubber washer 7 and the leather washer 5. These two materials adhere tothe rubber of the neck and prevent untwisting oi"- the neck. The rub berwasher 7 is movable relative to the easing and consequently may be movedto a position whereby. it will close the opening 3 thus securing theneck t in its bladder sealing position and'causing the ball to remain inan inflated condition for .a long ofwater or sand between the bladder 9,

which is somewhat fragile, particularly when under tension, and thecasing. It also permits the use of a relatively large yet preventsdistortion of the bladder through the opening. It also prevents punctureof. the bladderby an object entering'the opening. Furthermore, therubber of the Washer 7 prevei vts untWist-ing of the neck by reason ofits contact with the rub her of the neck and the pressure produced bythe inflation of the bladder.

I claim: I

1. In a play-ball, having a casing and a bladder, a flexible non-elasticsheet material secured to .the inside surface of the easing, theflexible sheet material and the easing having an opening therethrough, asecond flexible sheet material located andbodily'movable Within thecasing and having an opening smaller than the opening through the casingfor receiving the neck of the bladder,the said flexible sheet materialsadapt ,ed to clamp theneek of thebladder and pie vent a movement andopening thereof when the bladder is filled, the second named flexiblesheet material having awidth suitieiently great to cover the opening inthe casing when the neck of the bladder and the portion ofthe secondnamed sheet material having the opening is shifted to one side of theedge of the opening through the first named flexible sheet material andthe casing. opening for insertion of the bladder and 2. In a play-ballhaving a casing and a bladder, a disc of leather secured to theinsidesurface of the casing, the leather disc and the casing having anopening therethro'ugh, a disc of rubber located and bodily movableWithin the casing and having an opening smaller than the opening throughthe leather and the casingfor receivingtheneck of the bladder, the saiddiscs adapted to clamp the neck of the bladder and prevent movement andopening thereof when the bladder is filled, the rubber disc having adiameter sufficiently great to cover the opening through the leatherdisc and the casing Whenthe portion of the rubber disc in Whichitsopening is located is moved to .oneside of the edge of the openingthrough the leather disc. I 7

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

Brennan H. eoovnnr

